Frequently Asked Questions

GMAT & GPA

How important is the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT)?

All applicants must take the GMAT. This requirement is never waived. The GMAT is one of the major evaluation tools used by the admissions committee to make decisions on applications.

What is an acceptable score on the test?

The average score for students admitted to the BYU MBA program for Fall 2007 was 661.  It is rare that applicants with a GMAT score below 600 are admitted.

Should I retake the GMAT if my score is low?

If your GMAT score is below 600 it is suggested that you retake the GMAT to try to achieve a score more competitive for admission. The admissions committee will only consider your highest GMAT score (BYU does not average GMAT scores). Please notify the MBA Admissions Office if you plan to retake the GMAT, so that your application can be held from review until your new scores are received.

If applicants are denied to the MBA program due to a low GMAT score, they have the option to retake the GMAT and have their applications re-reviewed with the new score during the same admission year. Applicants who want to exercise this option should fax their new unofficial score reports (from the GMAT retake) to the MBA Office with a request to have their applications reconsidered with the new scores.

When should I take the GMAT?

It is recommended that applicants take the GMAT during the senior year of their undergraduate work or shortly thereafter, rather than waiting until after work experience is gained.  Students who take the GMAT while they are still in school tend to perform better on the exam—because they are still in the academic or test-taking “mode”—than those who wait until they apply for the MBA Program after working for several years. The GMAT score is valid for five years.

The GMAT is now a computer-adaptive test. Because of this, test takers are given an unofficial copy of their scores immediately after completing the exam and prior to leaving the testing center. Applicants may fax or bring in a copy of the unofficial GMAT score report from the testing center to be used to process their MBA application until the official scores arrive from the testing services. The MBA Admissions Committee can use the unofficial score report to make a recommendation on an application, but the official GMAT scores must reach BYU before an official offer of admission can be made.

It is suggested that the GMAT be taken several months before the application deadline for the following reasons:

  • It takes approximately four weeks for official GMAT scores to reach BYU.  An official offer of admission cannot be extended to an applicant until BYU has received the official GMAT scores.
  • To allow applicants the opportunity to study and retake the GMAT (and have the scores sent to BYU in time to meet the application deadline) should previous GMAT scores be unrepresentative of ability or too low to merit consideration for admission.
  • To allow applicants the opportunity to meet scholarship deadlines and benefit from other advantages that early admission to the MBA Program provides.

If you register online to take the GMAT, you must fill in the birth date in order for your GMAT score to match your BYU MBA application.

How should I prepare for the GMAT?

There are many preparation courses, books and CD-ROMS to use in preparation for the GMAT. Because the exam is administered on a computer, the CD-ROM materials can be very helpful and often closely simulate the actual exam. Preparation courses are offered on many university campuses and through private, for-profit educational centers. One of the best books we have found for individual preparation for the GMAT is Princeton Review’s Cracking the GMAT with the optional CD-ROM, which can be found in most bookstores.

Information regarding specific preparation materials and courses is available on the GMAT preparation page.

Which is given greater weight - GMAT score or GPA?

Both GMAT and GPA are very important factors in the application process, but GMAT score is given greater weight. It is rare to be admitted with a score lower than 600; our average is 661.

Do I have to submit my GMAT (and TOEFL for international applicants) scores with my application?

You can submit your application at any time. We will hold your application in our office until we've received all of the materials (i.e. test scores) and your application is complete. Since test scores take approximately 4 weeks to reach BYU it is recommended that you submit your application as soon as possible so that the it has time to be processed while we wait for the scores.

What is an acceptable GPA?

The average GPA for students admitted to the MBA program is 3.53, based on the last 60 credit hours of the undergraduate degree. However, the admissions committee recognizes the difference in difficulty that exists from one major to another and also from one school to another. For example, a low grade point average from a department that grades rigorously may be equated to a high grade point average from a department that has a history of inflated grades. Very few accepted candidates have a GPA below 3.0. Those who do need to have exceptional characteristics in other areas.

Can I be accepted if my GPA is below 3.0?

Yes, but there must be exceptional qualifications in other areas to convince the committee that you will successfully complete the program. If admitted with a GPA below 3.0, applicants will be given provisional admission, with the provision that they must maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 during the MBA program.